A Brief Review of Phytochemical Defenses of Ferns against Herbivores

Castrejón-Varela, Alejandra; Pérez-García, Blanca; Guerrero‐Analco, José A.; Mehltreter, Klaus

doi:10.1640/0002-8444-112.4.233

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Ferns have multiple recognized attributes that deter insects, whether chemical, structural‐mechanical, or developmental phenology. Moreover, ferns entirely lack flowers, fruits, and seeds, all common attractions for insects, and most living insect clades had coevolved with seed plants and famously with the flowering angiosperms (Castrejon‐Varela et al., 2022; Hendrix, 1980). The low‐level insect predation on ferns therefore cannot be attributed solely to the expression of insecticidal proteins.…”

Section: Insecticidal Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐seed plants are emerging gene sources for agriculture and insect control proteins

Simmons

Herman

2023

The Plant Journal

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SUMMARYThe non‐seed plants (e.g., charophyte algae, bryophytes, and ferns) have multiple human uses, but their contributions to agriculture and research have lagged behind seed plants. While sharing broadly conserved biology with seed plants and the major crops, non‐seed plants sometimes possess alternative molecular and physiological adaptations. These adaptations may guide crop improvements. One such area is the presence of multiple classes of insecticidal proteins found in non‐seed plant genomes which are either absent or widely diverged in seed plants. There are documented uses of non‐seed plants, and ferns for example have been used in human diets. Among the occasional identifiable toxins or antinutritive components present in non‐seed plants, none include these insecticidal proteins. Apart from these discrete risk factors which can be addressed in the safety assessment, there should be no general safety concern about sourcing genes from non‐seed plant species.

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Section: Insecticidal Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐seed plants are emerging gene sources for agriculture and insect control proteins

Simmons

Herman

2023

The Plant Journal

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“…Cyanogenic glycosides, such as prunasin, become toxic through conversion into HCN by β -glycosidase enzymes released upon tissue damage. When bracken is crushed or chewed, this conversion occurs, leading to the release of the unstable α -cyanohydrin mandelonitrile, which undergoes mandelonitrile β -elimination catalyzed via oxynitrilase to produce HCN and benzaldehyde [ 97 , 153 ]. Notably, polymorphism exists in bracken, with some plants lacking either prunasin or the required enzymes, rendering them noncyanogenic [ 79 ].…”

Section: Pharmacological Activity and Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and Environmental Hazards of the Toxic Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken Fern)

Malík,

Mika,

Navrátilová

et al. 2023

Plants

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Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) is ubiquitous and acts as a cosmopolitan weed in pastures and similar environments. Despite its historical uses, it presents risks due to toxicity. This study, conducted in the second half of 2023, aimed to assess the environmental and health hazards of P. aquilinum, primarily focusing on its carcinogenic compound, ptaquiloside. The literature was comprehensively reviewed using diverse databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Information was synthesized from original research articles, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and relevant animal studies. Animals grazing on bracken fern face annual production losses due to toxin exposure. The substantial impact on biodiversity, animal health, and human well-being arises from the presence of ptaquiloside and related compounds in milk, meat, and water, along with the increasing global prevalence of P. aquilinum and its swift colonization in acidic soil and fire-damaged areas. The objectives were to identify major bioactive compounds and explore their effects at molecular, cellular, pathological, and population levels. Various cooking techniques were considered to mitigate toxin exposure, although complete elimination remains unattainable. Therefore, the findings emphasize the need for cautious consumption. In conclusion, continued research is necessary to better understand and manage its environmental and health implications.

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An efficient and effective RNA extraction protocol for ferns

Pelosi,

Davenport,

Barbazuk

et al. 2024

Appl Plant Sci

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PremiseThe extraction of high‐quality RNA is the critical first step for the analysis of gene expression and gene space. This remains particularly challenging in plants, and especially in ferns, where the disruption of the cell wall and separation of organic compounds from nucleic acids is not trivial.MethodsWe developed a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)‐based RNA extraction protocol that consistently performs well across a large phylogenetic breadth of ferns—a lineage of plants high in secondary compounds—and in an array of tissue types. Two alternative options (precipitation vs. clean‐up without intermediate precipitation) are presented, both of which yield high‐quality RNA extracts with optical density (OD) ratios of OD 260/280 = 1.9–2.1 and OD 260/230 > 1.6, and RNA integrity numbers >7.ConclusionsThis study presents an efficient protocol for the extraction of high‐quality RNA from multiple tissues and across the fern phylogeny, a clade of plants that still lags behind other major lineages in the development of genomic resources. We hope that this method can be used to help facilitate the closing of this gap.

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A Brief Review of Phytochemical Defenses of Ferns against Herbivores

Cited by 9 publications

References 88 publications

Non‐seed plants are emerging gene sources for agriculture and insect control proteins

Non‐seed plants are emerging gene sources for agriculture and insect control proteins

Health and Environmental Hazards of the Toxic Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken Fern)

An efficient and effective RNA extraction protocol for ferns

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